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Family: Liliaceae (Lily family)
Mid-Atlantic bloom time: February - April
Mid-Atlantic fruit ripe: April - June
Dimpled Trout Lily is easily confused with more common Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum). E. umlilicatum usually is found growing as individuals, whereas E. americanum tends to grow in groups (forming colonies).
Distinguishing the two species can be tricky and requires looking closely at details. Dimpled Trout Lily's anthers (the pollen bearing parts) are usually lavender, brown, cinnamon or purple (but sometimes yellow). Its cousin Trout Lily's anthers are usually yellow, but can by brown or lavender.
The better character to look for is whether the sides of the 3 inner yellow petals (not the 3 outer yellow sepals!) are smooth to their base or if they have have auricles (little bumps on each side; term derived from Latin meaning "little ear"). Dimpled Trout Lily's (E. umlilicatum) petals are smooth and look like its sepals (i.e., they don't have auricles). If the inner petals have auricles, it's E. americanum.
After the petals drop and the fertilized ovary starts to swell, look to see if the ovary has a dimple at its end (E. umbilicatum) or lacks a dimple (E. americanum).
I thought I had found this species, but it turned out the specimen was actually E. americanum. Still looking for one!